Double Luck

By Djanwar Madjolelo

JAKARTA (JP): This deal is from the 5th Forbo-Krommenie International Bridge Tournament in The Hague, from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23, 1997.

It came in the Event Nation Cup match between the United States (world champions Bermuda Bowl 1995) and the Netherlands (world champions Bermuda Bowl 1993).

Board : 10

Dealer : East

Vulnerable: Both

NORTH

(S) 6 3

(H) A Q 10 4

(D) void

(C) Q J 9 8 6 4 2

WEST EAST

(S) void (S) K Q 7 4 2

(H) 8 7 6 (H) K J 9 5 3 2

(D) K J 9 6 5 4 3 (D) A 8

(C) A 10 7 (C) void

SOUTH

(S) A J 10 9 8 5

(H) void

(D) Q 10 7 2

(C) K 5 3

Open Room:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

de Boer Wolff Muller Hamman

- - 1H 1S

2D 3C 3H 4C

4H 5C Pass Pass

5H Double All pass

A simple guess can make a tremendous difference. In this deal big IMPs changed hands because of guesses.

The play at trick two made all the difference. Bauke Muller won the opening Clubs lead and led a Heart to the King. He tried to cash the Ace of Diamonds, but Wolff ruffed and cashed his high Heart. Now the declarer was only able to get eight tricks for minus 800.

Closed Room:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Nickell Westra Freeman Leufken

- - 1S Pass

2D 3C 3H 5C

Double Pass 5H Double

All pass

Freeman won the opening club lead and tried a Heart to the Jack! Next came the King of Spades which was covered by the Ace and ruffed.

Richard Freeman cashed the King of Hearts and gave up a trump to the Queen. He ruffed the Club return and led his last trump.

Enri Leufken, South, was squeezed -- he kept his Jack of Spades and three Diamonds. But now Freeman had the rest by picking up diamonds plus 850.

The United States team had double scores 850 + 800 or 17 IMPs.